Burrito Casserole

I have a simple but tasty dinner idea for you this week! It is this burrito casserole. Seasoned ground beef, green chiles, onion, jalapeno, refried beans, taco sauce, tortillas and more all layered in a casserole dish and baked to perfection. Slice and serve with a dollop of sour cream, chopped cilantro, and any other taco toppings.

I love Tex-Mex dinners that the whole family will gobble up, and this burrito casserole recipe does just that. Plus the prep is crazy simple, and that is always a win in my book. The melted cheese on top just sings to my heart.

Pair your Mexican casserole with this easy Mexican rice for an easy side dish. Or try this creamy corn dip, it is addictive.

Ingredients Needed

Ground Beef: For the base I used ground beef for this. Reach for lean ground beef, or make sure to drain off any grease before you move on to the next steps.

Onion: A yellow or white onion works perfectly for this casserole. Finely chop the onion.

Jalapeno: If you like the spice leave a few seeds. Otherwise, make sure to remove the seeds and white membrane to tame the spice of the pepper.

Garlic: A little minced garlic will elevate the flavor quite a bit for this dish. Use fresh or canned garlic.

Green Chiles: You can use mild, medium, or hot peppers depending on your preference. Just drain off the juice, before you add it in.

Rotel: Get a can of Rotel, which is diced tomatoes and green chiles. Drain it and then add to the mixture.

Taco Sauce: A jar of sauce is the base flavoring for this dish. It adds such incredible taco flavor.

Refried Beans: Add in some extra protein and flavor with some refried beans.

Tortillas: Flour tortillas are what we used for the shells for this dish. It works as the perfect layer for the dish.

Cheese: I used a blended cheese but you can also use pepper jack, cheddar, etc.

Cilantro or Green Onions: Consider topping your finished casserole with some fresh cilantro or even green onions.

How to Make

Here is a quick walkthrough on how to make the burrito casserole. The full steps are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

In a skillet on medium heat, you will cook your ground beef for around 5 minutes.

Add in your peppers, and onion, and cook for another 5-7 minutes or until the meat is fully cooked and the onions are translucent.

Stir in the garlic, and stir until it becomes fragrant. Then drain off any grease.

Mix in the tomatoes, green chiles, taco sauce, and refried beans. Stir well and cook for 15 minutes on a simmer.

Spread a layer of the meat mixture in the casserole. Then cover with tortillas, and repeat meat, and cheese, and more tortillas. Do this until you finish with a meat mixture and then top it with some shredded cheese.

Bake as directed, and then once the cheese is all melted, and is lightly golden brown remove.

Top with some cilantro or even green onions. Slice and serve with your favorite taco toppings.

Variations to Recipe

• Opt for ground turkey, pork or even chicken to replace the ground beef.
• Leave out the jalapeno if you are not a fan.
• You can season the beef with taco seasoning in replace of the taco sauce. I find the taco sauce is best as it helps to create a nice creamy texture.
• Swap the refried beans with one can refried beans and another can of pinto for added texture.
• Use any flavor of cheese you would like for this, or do a blend of two types of cheese.

Storing The Casserole

Refrigerate: Refrigerate any of the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. This dish reheats well. Just warm it up in the microwave for a quick reheat. Or cover in a dish and warm up in the oven.

Freezer: You can also freeze this casserole. Place in a freezer-friendly container and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, or warm it straight up from the freezer.

Tips for Making This Burrito Casserole

• Make sure to fully cook the ground beef until it is no longer pink. Then ensure you drain off the excess grease.
• Drain off the liquid on the tomatoes and the green chiles.
• Stir the mixture often, so it doesn’t burn on the bottom of the skillet.
• Create a handful of layers so each bite you get all the flavors of the dish.
• Let the casserole cool for about 5 minutes before you slice it.
• Ensure you grease your casserole dish before you begin layering your meat and tortillas.

FAQs

Print Pin

Burrito Casserole

Ingredients

• 2 Pounds Ground chuck
• 1 Onion Chopped
• 1 Jalapeno Minced – Seeds & membranes removed
• 2 Tsp Minced garlic
• 4.5 Oz Can of chopped green chiles Drained
• 10 Oz Can diced tomatoes with green chiles (like Rotel) Drained
• 16 oz Jar of taco sauce
• 2 – 16 Oz cans of refried beans
• 12 – 8 Inch Flour tortillas
• 3-4 Cups Shredded Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack cheese
• Fresh cilantro or chopped green onions to garnish Optional

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the ground chuck for 5-7 minutes. Add the jalapeño & onion; continue cooking for another 5-7 minutes until the beef is cooked through and onions are translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 60 seconds. Drain any excess fat. 
• Mix in the green chiles, tomatoes with green chiles, taco sauce, and refried beans. Cook the mixture on low heat and simmer for about 15 minutes. 
• Spread a thin layer of the meat/bean mixture into a baking dish. I either use a 9×13 or a round 3quart casserole dish. Cover with a layer of tortillas, followed by more meat mixture and then a layer of shredded cheese. Repeat tortilla, meat, & cheese layers until all the tortillas are used. Finish off with a layer of meat mixture and cheese. 
• Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is slightly browned and the casserole is bubbly. 
• Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro or green onions, if desired.